Articles, notes, etc relating to Patagonia by W. Casnodyn Rhys and others

Reference: NLW MS 20549E

Articles, notes, papers, etc., of W. Casnodyn Rhys, 1920s and 1930s relating to the history of Patagonia, the Indians of Chubut and a memoir of Joshua Jones one of the first settlers.

Who was Casnodyn Rhys?

Casnodyn Rhys (1851-1943) was born on 10 Sept 1851 in Tai Bach, Port Talbot, Wales in 1851. He trained for the ministry at the Baptist college in Pontypool and began his ministry at Pennar Baptist chapel at Pembroke Dock in 1876. In late 1878 he sailed with his wife and young daughter to Patagonia to become the minister at Vron Deg, the new chapel built in Chubut. He made his living farming on land given to him by the Argentine government and preaching every Sunday in the Baptist church. He gave valuable service to the settlement in general and was Secretary and Treasurer of the Gaiman Council. After 15 years in Patagonia, he returned to Britain in 1893 and was minister of the Stroud Green Baptist chapel until 1900. He was minister of York Place Baptist chapel, Swansea from 1900 until his retirement in 1929 and died in Swansea in 1941, aged 89.

Bibliography

• David Hall Rhys (gol.), William Casnodyn Rhys, A Welsh Song in Patagonia: Memories of the Welsh Colonization (2005)
• Eironedd A. Baskerville, Companion to the Welsh settlement in Patagonia, p.97